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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    by Traci · 02/09/2021

    Bananas Foster Recipe

    5 from 30 votes
    Total 10 minutes minutes
    Jump To Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    The New Orleans-inspired bananas foster recipe, aka banana flambe, is a secret weapon of any date night. Bananas are flambeed in a simple caramel rum sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. Decadence!

    bananas foster in iron skillet with scoop of melting vanilla ice cream and chopped pecans
    Table of Contents hide
    1) What is Bananas Foster
    2) Bananas foster recipe ingredients
    3) How ripe should bananas be for bananas foster dessert?
    4) How to make bananas foster
    5) What is banana flambe?
    6) Can you make Bananas Foster ahead of time?
    7) Is Bananas Foster alcoholic?
    8) Can you substitute the alcohol in bananas foster?
    9) How to serve bananas foster
    10) More fruit dessert recipes you'll love
    11) More Banana Recipes
    12) 📖 Recipe
    13) Bananas Foster

    What is Bananas Foster

    The story goes during the 1950's in New Orleans, Brennan's restaurant owner, Owen Brennan, asked Chef Paul Blange to create a dessert with bananas, a locally imported commodity. So he cooked bananas in a caramel rum sauce, ignited it, and topped it with vanilla ice cream. It's such a romantic dessert, no wonder it was born in New Orleans.

    Bananas foster recipe ingredients

    • butter - add a pinch of salt if using unsalted butter
    • brown sugar - light or dark
    • cinnamon stick - or ground cinnamon
    • ripe bananas - preferably not overripe
    • dark rum - bourbon works too
    • vanilla ice cream
    • pecans - or walnuts (or preferred nut)

    How ripe should bananas be for bananas foster dessert?

    I prefer to use firmly ripened bananas with very yellow (not browned) skin for bananas foster. They'll soften up when cooked in the rum sauce and I don't want them too soft. If you want a recipe that uses brown-skinned overripe bananas, check out my ridiculously moist Banana Bread recipe. It's banana heaven!

    How to make bananas foster

    1. Make the easy caramel sauce by heating butter, brown sugar, vanilla, pecans, and cinnamon in a skillet.
    2. Add bananas - saute until softened
    3. Flambe - (optional) see details in recipe card below
    4. Baste - cook bananas in the sauce
    5. Serve - top with ice cream, and devour!

    What is banana flambe?

    Flambe is when alcohol is added to food and ignited. When you make bananas foster flambe, rum or bourbon is added to a buttery, brown sugar mixture and set alight briefly. You can make bananas foster as a banana flambe, or not. Either method will make a delicious caramel rum sauce.

    I'll state the obvious here, but ALL precautions MUST be taken to avoid injury and prevent fire. As with any cooking activity, a fire extinguisher or fire blanket should be on hand at all times.

    bananas foster in iron skillet with scoop of melting vanilla ice cream and chopped pecans

    Can you make Bananas Foster ahead of time?

    You could make the caramel sauce ahead of time and refrigerate until needed. However, unless you're hosting an event, I find it just as easy to make the sauce as needed because it comes together in a snap. You wouldn't want to make banana flambe ahead because the bananas will become mushy.

    Is Bananas Foster alcoholic?

    Alcohol is a key ingredient of classic bananas foster. The flambe process happens very quickly and 75% of the alcohol is retained even after cooking. So, if a person is avoiding alcoholic desserts, omit the alcohol entirely and enjoy this dessert without it.

    Can you substitute the alcohol in bananas foster?

    If you want to substitute an ingredient for the alcohol in this recipe, you can substitute equal amount of apple juice, pineapple juice, or heavy cream. It might not be a classic bananas foster recipe and you won't be able to flambe (ignite) it, but it will still be delicious.

    bananas foster in iron skillet with scoop of melting vanilla ice cream and chopped pecans

    How to serve bananas foster

    One of my favorite things about bananas foster is that you can serve it in the skillet you cooked it in. I used this cute 8" cast iron skillet, which serves 1-2 people. You can serve bananas foster in any dish other than a skillet, I just have a soft spot for iron skillet desserts.

    bananas foster in iron skillet with scoop of melting vanilla ice cream and chopped pecans

    More fruit dessert recipes you'll love

    • Orange Olive Oil Cake Recipe
    • Blueberry Crisp
    • Apple Cranberry Crisp
    • Blueberry Zucchini Bread

    More Banana Recipes

    • Double Chocolate Banana Bread
    • Ridiculously Moist Banana Walnut Bread
    • Fruit Yogurt Breakfast Bowl

    📖 Recipe

    New Orleans-inspired Bananas Foster recipe. Scrumptious date night dessert with caramel sauce, bananas, pecans, and vanilla ice cream. #bananasfoster #flambe #neworleans #fattuesday #mardigras #alamode #warmdessert

    Bananas Foster

    The New Orleans-inspired bananas foster recipe, aka banana flambe, is a secret weapon of any date night. Bananas are flambeed in a simple caramel rum sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. Decadence!
    Prep TimePrep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook TimeCook Time: 5 minutes mins
    Total timeTotal Time: 10 minutes mins
    Yield 2 ½-cup servings
    Author Traci Antonovich
    5 from 30 votes
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    When scaling the recipe 2x or 3x, the gray ingredient note stays the same. Adjust quantities accordingly.

    Ingredients 

    • 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
    • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
    • pinch Cinnamon, or cinnamon stick
    • 1 ripe Banana, sliced lengthwise
    • 2 tablespoons Dark Rum, or bourbon
    • 1-2 (4 ounce scoops) Vanilla Ice Cream
    • 1 tablespoon Pecans or Walnuts, chopped

    Instructions

    • Melt BUTTER in skillet over medium heat.
    • Add BROWN SUGAR and CINNAMON, stirring until sugar dissolves.
    • Add BANANA and cook a few minutes on both sides until softened.
    • Turn off stove burner and pour in RUM.

    If you don't want to ignite / flambe

    • Turn burner back on and allow sauce to cook a few minutes, stirring as needed, then serve.

    To make banana flambe, there are 2 ways you can ignite the flame. BE CAREFUL either way and do not stand over the skillet.

    • Option 1) Gas stove burner: Turn burner on and adjust to LOW heat. Carefully tip the skillet into the flame to ignite the alcohol, shaking the pan around to baste the bananas until the flame burns off.
      Option 2) Match or lighter: Keep stove burner off and use a long match or lighter to ignite the alcohol, shaking the pan around to baste the bananas until the flame burns off.

    To serve bananas foster

    • Serve bananas and sauce in the warm skillet or transfer to a bowl. Add ICE CREAM and PECANS.
    Did you make this? We'd love your feedback!!Please rate and review it here or below ⤵️

    Recipe Notes

    What is banana flambe
    Flambe is when alcohol is added to food and ignited. When you make bananas foster flambe, rum or bourbon is added to a buttery, brown sugar mixture and set alight briefly. Whether you flambe or not, you will get a delicious caramel rum sauce with this recipe, so igniting is not required.
    Is Bananas Foster alcoholic?
    Alcohol is a key ingredient of classic bananas foster. The flambe process happens very quickly and 75% of the alcohol is retained even after cooking. So, if a person is avoiding alcoholic desserts, omit the alcohol entirely and enjoy this recipe without it.
    What can you substitute for the alcohol in bananas foster?
    If you want to substitute an ingredient for the alcohol in this recipe, you can substitute equal amount of apple juice, pineapple juice, or heavy cream. It might not be a classic bananas foster recipe and you won't be able to flambe (ignite) it, but it will still be delicious.
    Can you make Bananas Foster ahead of time?
    You could make the caramel sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until needed. However, unless you're hosting an event, I find it just as easy to make the sauce as needed because it comes together in a snap.

    Equipment

    • 8” cast iron skillet or any skillet
    • chef's knife or paring knife
    • wire whisk or fork
    • silicone spatula
    • matches or fireplace lighter (if igniting)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 54mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, French
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian
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    5 from 30 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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    Comments

    1. Juliette Gilbert says

      July 23, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      So quick easy and delicious. I will be making again.

      Reply
      • The Kitchen Girl says

        July 24, 2022 at 6:10 am

        Yay! Bananas Foster is one of our favorite desserts anytime. I'm so glad you enjoyed. Thank you!

    2. Kim G says

      November 28, 2021 at 2:14 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy and fast to make. Wonderfully delicious

      Reply
      • The Kitchen Girl says

        November 28, 2021 at 2:21 pm

        Awesome, Kim! It's amazing how quick Bananas Foster can be made. So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the feedback

    3. Kayla says

      February 10, 2021 at 9:00 am

      Hi Traci! Question - do I need to use a cast iron skillet or can a different kind of skillet be used?

      Reply
      • The Kitchen Girl says

        February 10, 2021 at 10:42 am

        Hi Kayla, any skillet will work. Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks so much and enjoy! 🙂

    « Older Comments

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